Elder Law, Family Law, and Estate Planning in Hackensack, New Jersey

A lawsuit filing on March 15, 2021, against the Tennessee-based Brookdale Senior Living, Inc ( Brookdale ) by a coalition of California District and City Attorneys and prior California Attorney General Xavier Becerra sent a shockwave through the senior living industry. The lawsuit alleges ten locations of current and former California Brookdale facilities gave false data to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ( CMS )to garner higher “ star ratings ” that CMS provides to help consumers choose a quality nursing facility. Fraudulently increasing a facility’s star rating in several categories can attract more prospective patients and their families. The lawsuit also alleges these facilities did not follow legal discharge procedures that protect patient safety. Attorney  General Becerra  stated , “We are holding Brookdale accountable for artificially increasing its profits by cutting corners when transferring or discharging its patients. It lured individuals to its facilities t...

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), is a federal law that requires certain employers to provide 12 weeks of unpaid leave to employees while still protecting their job for their return. There are certain requirements that must be met by both employers and employees to qualify. However, if you do qualify, this can be an important legal tool for use if you need to leave work for any family matter that qualifies.                                                                           Understanding the Family Medical Leave Act Many people think that the Family  Medical  Leave Act only allows a woman to take 12 weeks of leave after the birth of the child or the legal adoption of a child. However, the Family Medical Leave Act actually allows any employees under certain circumstances to take unpa...

This is the third and final installment in a series on parental alienation. The first post reviewed parental alienation. The second post explored warning signs that your child may be the victim of a parental alienation situation. This post will examine how to assert your legal rights and stop the abusive behavior.            If you find that the other parent is interfering in your relationship with your child, it is normal to ask yourself, how did this begin? Contempt and the harboring of contempt is at the forefront of the other parent’s behavior. The other parent is also most likely a manipulator. She or he is able to manipulate you and your child. Parental alienation often begins subtly. At first it is derogatory comments. It then moves to demeaning, negating, and even berating comments that target the other parent.  What to do if You Suspect Parental Alienation If you suspect that your ex-spouse or partner is alienating your chi...